Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-10-21
BARRoN's MURDERER FOUND.
Belief That the Perpetrators ofthe Dex-
ter, Me-, Tras edy a, e fn Custody.

Belief That the Perpetrators oTthe Dex-
ter, Me-, Traged a, e I'm Custody.
The n. Y. Evening World publishes con-
fession by Charles Francis Stain concerning
the murder of Cashier J. W. Barron OF the
National Savings Bank at Dexter, Ne, on
Feb. 20, 1878, and the robbery of the bank.
Barron was found on the evening Of that
holiday living bleeding and unconscious in
the bank vault. The door of the vault was
open, but the funds were untouched, and only
$500 in money and a $500 bond were missing
from the cash drawer The story was started
that Barron had committed suicide to avoid
exposure of some misconduct toward the
! bank, but this was never proved.
The World says that a young man named
Charles Francis Stain has now made state
ment that he and his father, David Stain,
with Oliver Smith, alias Cromwell, we'll
known criminal, and four men named An
drews, Thompson Scott and keely, were i'm
plicated In the crime. They had procured
impressions of all the locks in the building
where the bank was located, and
the building seemed deserted, to
gain entrance by false keys.
| On opening the vault room door, David
! Stain found himself face to face with Barron.
Instantly and without word" says young
| STAIN "father pulled slungshot from hls
|
| he was Unconscious Neither father nor
| Cromwell dared to make an examination OF
I the contents of the vaults Father unlocked
the money drawer, and gathered up what
| loose money there was there, amounting to
little less than 500 and thrust $500 bond
! into his pocket"
Young Stain had waited at Bingham, a
| few miles away, with a wagon. All found
their way thither and drove to Scion, Ne,
where they separated. Young Stain heard
all the details of the robbery from his father
and Cromwell. He believes that some Of the
gang started the story of Barron's defalca-
ton in order to divert suspicion from them
| selves
Stain and Cromwell were arraigned for a
preliminary hearing on the 18th inst. before
| Trial Justice L. B. Waldron of Dexter and
both pleaded guilty Counsel for state asked
for continuance of the case until October
%, and the same was accordingly granted
! and the prisoners remanded to jan
| at Bangor until that time.
The town is shaken to its depths by theo
ries OF the affair and the story OF Stain Is
generally disbelieved. Several citizens or
Dexter claim to fully identify the men and
claim them to be the strangers in town en-
| the night of the tragedy.
| Andrews was discharged, es SherlH Mitch
ell was satisfied he knew nothing of the
affair.
Fresh develoSnents and tending to prove
the truth of yotslg Stains confessions. Adj
ditional statements by him implieate the
gang" and his father particularly, in many
| other "shadyn affairs. Grimes that have
long been hidden are laid at their door and
their ground OF action has included both
Massachusetts, and Maine
Young Stain says ne told all he knew. The
cause OF his willingness to talk Is said to be
the influence of a ghost of the murdered
Barron, which has visited him, he claims,
and has broken the silence of nine years.
Included in the category OF crimes OF which
they are held responsible is the murder OF
old Mr., Messenger Of Norfolk, Mass, some
IL or 10 years ago; the poisoning of MIR.
Steel Of Medfeld, Mass, and man named
Hammond of the same town. They are also
credited with smuggling horses over the
Canadian border, counterPeiting and Illicit
distilling.
The people Of Dexter, and in fact, nearly
everywhere in the whole state OF Maine, are
absorbed in the details of the murder of
Cashier Barron as they appear in print, and
additional facts are awaited with impatience.
Opinion, except In a few marked cases. has
changed from one of doubt and uncertainty
to almost positive belief that Barron was
murdered, and that the men who robbed him
OF his life and caused his honor to be tar
nished with the breath Of suspicion are now
in the strong hands Of the law. The
change In public sentiment is most marked,
and 1t augurs LII for the men who stand
charged with the crime, But there
seems to exist q small minority Of men who
viii not be convinced. The fact that the
officials of the Dexter Savings Bank have
permitted its counsel to appear for the men
and that Lawyer Drummond OF Portland Is
preparing their defence is a matter which
has created considerable unfavorable COM
ment 1t is said that a certain very proni.
nent man has said, ~ do not believe it. If
knew it to be true, would not admit it," 1t
looks as If considerable effort is TO be made
to protect Stain and Cromwell Smith In cer-
tain quarters with ersult hat cannot
safely be prophesied at this time